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Hi there! My name is Maria Chappa. I am the new Peer Leader for TurningPointCT. I am so excited to begin working on this project and provide helpful recourses to you all!
I am 24 years old and graduated college in 2020.
I have dealt with mental health struggles for most of my life and for many years felt very alone in it. I hope to use my experience of learning how to cope and function with anxiety and depression to help others. I am very passionate about making sure the people around me know it is important to lean of your support system and be honest about how you are feeling.
A big hobby of mine is painting. Typically I paint with acrylics on canvases, but also paint with
watercolor. I love making gifts for friends and family and am constantly working on projects for
myself. For me, painting is a way to quiet my mind and truly relax. When I’m not painting you
can find me reading. My favorite authors are Taylor Jenkins Reid and Collen Hoover! I also love
spending time outside whether it’s going for a walk on the local trail or simply sitting outside in
the sun.
In 2019 I traveled to Costa Rica to become a certified Wilderness First Responder. While on my
trip I learned how to care for someone injured in austere environments away from medical
care. Not only did I learn many skills, I also learned how to surf, zip lined through the jungle and
went white water rafting! A few months after my trip I was chosen to go on a second trip, but
this time as a teaching assistant. Going back as a TA allowed me to work on my leadership skills
and sharpen the skills I had learned just months before.
– Maria
TurningPointCT.org was developed by young people in Connecticut who are in recovery from mental health and substance use issues. We know what it’s like to feel alone, stressed, worried, sad, and angry. We’ve lived through the ups and downs of self-harm, drugs and alcohol, and the struggle to find help.
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